A memorable smile builds first impressions. But what if you don’t have a memorable smile? What if your smile embarrasses you? If you’ve had poor dental health in the past and now have a compromised smile, there’s a solution. You’ve probably even heard of all the different solutions for compromised smiles. So how do you know which procedure to pick? Both implants and veneers can fix the unsightly smile. Keep reading to learn whether implants vs veneers are the key to your winning grin.
Implants vs Veneers: a Definition
Both implants and veneers are dental procedures to fix compromised teeth. When the procedures are done, at a glance, few will be able to tell whether you’ve gotten implants or veneer on your teeth.
Implants replace the root for missing teeth. A dentist will surgically implant a screw-like metal post in your gum line and then fit the post with a crown that matches your other teeth.
Veneers, on the other hand, are thin shells made of ceramic or porcelain. The dentist will affix the shell to your current teeth face. Technicians shape and color the veneer to match the surrounding teeth, allowing it to blend in seamlessly.
So, in short, an implant is a tooth replacement whereas a veneer is a tooth refacing.
Pros and Cons of Implants
A dental implant procedure requires time. It is a surgical procedure with risks just like any other surgery.
However, dental implants also give you a completely new tooth. They work best if you need a new tooth and do not feel comfortable with bridgework or dentures.
Here are a few benefits that implants provide:
- Confident, new smile: a dental implant will look like a natural tooth. You will smile with confidence, and your face won’t sag from missing teeth and the bone loss that they cause.
- Clear speech: missing teeth and dentures can impair your speech. Implants will make your mouth seem like you’ve always had a full set of teeth, and thus you’ll speak clearly.
- Comfort: Engineers and scientists designed implants to fuse with your jaw without rejection. They will last a lifetime, and you don’t have to fear losing a tooth or suffering from an infection again.
- Confident chewing: You can chew the toughest of foods without worrying about your dentures falling out. You won’t feel the pain of a sharp potato chip hitting the gums where your teeth are missing.
- Overall better oral health: Implants do not affect nearby teeth, leaving them intact and healthy. Dentists make sure you have adequate room between your teeth and implants to properly brush and floss, giving you overall better oral health.
- Stable teeth: An implant stabilizes nearby teeth, keeping your other teeth from shifting toward the gap left by a missing tooth.
The biggest downside to implants is the cost. Dental implants cost $3,500 to $4,000 per implant procedure. Insurance will cover a portion of the implant cost if you can prove the medical necessity of it.
Dental Implant Process
Dental implants also take time and come with the risks associated with all surgical procedures. Here’s the basic process for receiving a dental implant.
- Evaluation: The dentist will evaluate your dental structure by looking at x-rays. They will take your tooth’s impression to create a matching implant for your teeth.
- Repair damaged teeth: The dentist will remove all portions of the tooth they’ll be replacing and will disinfect the pulp.
- Prepare jawbone: If you’ve been missing the tooth for a while, you will most likely have an inadequate amount of jawbone for an implant. The dentist will need to use a bone graft to create an adequate base for your implant.
- Place implant: Once your jawbone heals, your dentist will install the implant into your gumline by inserting the screw or abutment that your artificial tooth attaches to.
Dental implants take time, but they’re a permanent solution to missing teeth, and you end up with a winning smile.
Pros and Cons of Veneers
The difference between implants and veneers rests on the health of your teeth. Unlike implants which replace teeth, veneers reface teeth. Candidates for veneers do not need implants because they already have healthy teeth.
Here are a few of the things that veneers can do for you:
- Close gaps
- Even the length of teeth
- Cover dark stains
- Create a uniform-looking smile
- Restore cracked, chipped, or broken teeth
- Restore a tooth to its full functionality
Dental veneers make your teeth look brand new. They offer a simple solution to an unsightly problem.
Veneers use your natural teeth, so you do not have to go through the waiting time required for implants. You do not run the same risks compared to acquiring implants because you’re not having surgery. Thus, you have less recovery time as well.
Furthermore, engineers designed veneers out of stain-resistant material. So your teeth will stay white and bright even when you’re sipping on your daily cup of dark roast in the morning.
Veneer Process
The veneer process takes less time and commitment than implants. It will require several visits to the dentist though. Here are the basics:
- Take an impression: The dental staff will take an impression of your teeth to create the perfect veneers in their lab. They will design the veneers to match the size, shape, and color of your teeth. Designing the veneers will take a week or longer.
- Prepare teeth: The dentist will remove a portion of your enamel to ensure the veneers lie flat and stay in line with your gums.
- Secure temporary veneer: The dentist will secure a temporary veneer with removable glue. You will keep the temporary veneer on until the permanent veneers are ready.
- Attach permanent veneer: Once the permanent veneers are ready, the dentist will remove the temporary veneer and attach the permanent veneer.
Similar to an implant procedure, you will have discomfort after the final procedure. However, it will pass quickly, and you’ll have a new smile. Veneers cost less than implants, coming in between $800 and $2,500 a tooth.
Reface or Replace: You Decide
Your decisions on implants vs veneers depend on the health of your teeth. If you already have healthy teeth, then veneers make the most sense. However, if you have a compromised tooth, then replace it with an implant.
Do you need a new smile? We are in the business of restoring smiles and confidence. Contact us today, and we will have you smiling in no time.